Summons

Summons, in English law, means generally a writ or order directed to a party to appear and answer some complaint before a court or judge. All actions in the High Court now begin with the issue of a writ of summons. A summons is usually the first step in summary proceedings before magistrates. In Scotland the first writ in an action is called a summons; and the term is also in use in the colonies and in the United States.